Good and bad news for Cheetahs

2008-05-26 22:03

Pieter Jordaan

Bloemfontein - Promising young Cheetahs eighthman Duanne Vermeulen does not need neck surgery. Medical experts say fears that his career could be in doubt are unfounded.

The 21-year-old Vermeulen was sent home from the Springbok training camp in the Western Cape at the weekend and it was feared that he may need surgery.

However, Free State team doctor Org Strauss announced the good news on Monday while he was preparing to leave for Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls later this week.

A Bloemfontein neurosurgeon, Dr Dan Hugo, has examined Vermeulen and has found that the injury is not as serious as the one that Springbok flank Schalk Burger suffered in 2006.

Vermeulen has an injured disc in his neck. Burger had a vertebrae injury.

"It is an injury that many players encounter," Strauss said. "Duanne will just have to rest for about four weeks.

"He'll receive physiotherapy and medication and should be ready to play again in six weeks or so."

Although Vermeulen's participation in the training camp has been cut short he should be available to play Currie Cup rugby for the Cheetahs later this season.

That will give him an opportunity to bid for a place in the Springbok team to tour Europe late this year.

However, the Free State fans have also received some bad news.

Rory Duncan, one of the stalwarts of the past few seasons, will be leaving in June to play in Japan.

This comes shortly after the announcement that Duncan's lock partner, Springbok Barend Pieterse, will retire at the end of the season.

The 30-year-old Duncan has signed a two-year contract with the Jubilo Yamaha Club.

"It will be a little different playing over there, but it's an exciting prospect," he said on Monday.

- Volksblad